Record changer spindle



Oct. 28, 1952 Filed Deo. l, 1949 W. MILLER T AL RECORD CHANGER SPINDLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y! f lll/l l 43 .RESET l ,z H l 4 8 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 28, 1952 .RECORD CHANGER SPINDLE Walter Miller and J ames` L.i D. yMorrison, Benton Harbor, Mich.

`Application,December 1, 1949,'.Seria1 N o. 130,442 6 Claims. (Cl.l 2774-510) The present invention? relates -to record changers Vfor phonographs and the like,A where records ofinixedsizes may be stacked upior consecutive feeding to thev turntable of the machine after each record is played. More speciiically this invention comprises record changing means incorporated within the spindle, on the upper portion of which the records to ibe playedare lstacked up.

An object of the present invention is to provide means operating within `*the spindle, for feed-4 ing therecords one ata 'time from the bottomof the stack vplaced on the-upperportion of the spindle, after the previously drOpped record has-been played.

A furtherv object cf the present invention is to hold the stack of records on .the upperportion of the spindle by means yofthe three carrier fingers extending angularly from pivots injsaid spindle tosupport the stack ata level where the lowermost record isfopposite the oisetr portion of said spindle.

A rstill further object of the present ,invention is to provide an off-setting finger pivoted in said spindlea-nd normallynested'within a slot in said spindle, and meansin said spindle for actuating said finger to offset the lowermostrecord in the stack s-o as to form a stopk fora setofy holding fingers provided in the upper portion of said spindle having friction surfaces expandable outwardly within the center hole of the record resting on the lowermost record, yso asto support said record and those above it inthe stack `while thelowermost record is permitted'to .drop to the turntable;

`A still further object :of the present invention is to provide holding viingers .withsharp` external lower edges, and means for lowering said f'fiingers to the top of the lowermost record afterit has been offset on` the spindle, then pressing said holding fingers outwardly :so as-to lwedge said sharp-edges under the'irecord Yresting'on the offset record, thereby causing apositive vgrip under the remaining stack before thelowermost record is allowedgto drop. t

A still further object ofthe present invention is to provide means ,inzsaid spindle to thenlower saidzcarrier ngers slightly, .then vsnap r.them into `respective slots provided' for 'them ,in said `spindlepallowing the separated record to drop freely down the spindleto the turntable, andmeans for fingers while slightly raising `the holding lingers to their original position.

A further obj ect is 1toiprovide anoperating v,cam means below said turntable `foroperation ofthe /means within'said spindle in timedfrelationtmthe Voperation of vthe tonearm .during-.the record .changingfeycle i VThesev-andother morespecific objects-.willuappear more clearly in l.the .following .detailed 1de'- .scription of one formofthe record changenspindle and operating'meansbuilt in'accordance .with the present invention, having reference-to the `accompanying.drawingsI wherein: f f

Figure 1 is a l.sectional -view. of .thewspndle brokenin lthree parts .so-as to show theentire=as sembly inoneiigure. v

Figui-e2 isa detailreduced view of .the onsetting finger. y

Figure 3y yis .a ldetail .reduced view fof onerof .the carrier fingers. n v y Figure 4 is aniassernbly view, partly lin s'ection, of the turntableand.spindle-with.a stack fofxrecords 'on theupper :portion thereof.

Figure f5.-. is a sectional-view vof .the stationary portion of. the-spindle. Y

' .Figures 6, 'Ifand 8 aresectional yviews-taken on the lines 6 6, ,'l--Tandr 8-8 respectively/ding- .ure 5.

Figure 9 Vis 1an ,elevational viewof the ,holding fingers.

Figure 10. is a .bottom viewthereof.

vFigure ll isa detailsectional viewof .the lower .end of one of the holding fingers. l,

Figures lf2-and 13 -are kelevational views respectively of the -flat springs kforbiasing thecarrier yand offsetting. yingers.

Figure 14 is a blank uof sheet spring-material Ystamped vout -to form the above springs, and

Figures l5 and .-16 are elevational views of the operating cam plate 'for actuating the movable yspindle portions-to operate theiingers during the record changing cycle, the cam ,plate beingfshown .in its extreme positions in the twoxiigures.`

Referring .now to `the :Figures ^morespeciiically., the turntable l is mounted on v.a rotary sleeve 2 supported by a thrust bearingzat the base ofthe spindle supporting sleeve #which is iixedlyzposi- .tioned in the casing 5of the phonograph base in axial alignment with the turntable l. y i

The spindle comprisesa tubularsstaff '1, a concentric vertically` zmovablev rsleeve .8 ,and a,A r`nonvcentric verticallyy movablefplunger l6. The lower ends of thestai 1, sleeve-8 Aandplungeri.are provided ,with transversely -rextending aligning slots for the reception of a horizontally-.movable cam plates whichl is. moved periodicallyzbyian then to the left, thus moving the cam plate which is guided in any suitable manner to slide horizontally through the slots of the spindle parts as will be readily understood upon reference to Figures 15 and 16. Obviously any other means for moving the cam plate may be employed.

Formed in the cam plate 9 intermediate the uD- per and lower edges there is an elongated longitudinal slot I6 in which is received a cross pin I3, opposite ends of which extend into the staff 1 so that as the cam plate 9 is moved, the staff 1 will remain substantially stationary. Formed in the cam plate 9 immediately below the slot I6 is a cam slot I1 which is horizontal throughout the major portion of its length but inclines downwardly as at I1a adjacent one end. A cross pin I 4 extends through the slot I1 and into the sleeve 8 so that as the plate 9.is moved to the right as viewed in Figure 15 the sleeve 8 will be moved downwardly on the staff 1. A cam slot I5 is formed in the cam plate 9 above the slot I6 and is substantially in the form of an inverted V with the apex I5a disposed near the end of the cam plate remote from the downwardly inclined portion I1a of the cam slot I1. The cam slot I5 in- 'clines downwardly toward the slot I6 as it recedes from the apex I5a and its upper wall I5b diverges from its lower wall I5c to a point I5d near the end thereof remote from the apex I5a. From the point I5d, the upper wall of the cam slot I5 converges rapidly as at I5e toward the lower wall I 5c as the end of the slot is approached. Extending through the cam slot I5 into the plunger 6 is a cross pin I2 so that as the plate 9 is moved to the right when viewed as in Figure 15, the plunger 6 will first be moved upwardly with a rather rapid motion and then moved downwardly vat a progressively decreasing speed until the cam speed in excess of that at which it was moved upwardly.

Mounted on the plunger 6 for vertical sliding movement relative thereto is a cone 26, the sides of which converge as the lower end is apr proached, and bearing on the upper end of the vcone is a compression coiled spring 25, the upper end of which bears against the under side of a stop collar 24 carried by the plunger 6 adjacent the upperend thereof. Carried by the plunger 6 in spaced relation to the upper end thereof is an annular stop shoulder 21 which limits the downward movement of the cone 26 under the influence of the spring 25. Formed in the plunger 6 slightly below the shoulder 21 is an elongated longitudinally disposed groove 2|, the bottom surface of which is curved as at 2Ia to form a cam surface, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear, and formed in the plunger 6 immediately below the lower end of the groove 2I is a relatively wide'annular groove 20 in which are received the spring tongues of the carrier fingers to be more fully described.

' An annular groove I9 is formed in the plunger 6 intermediate the groove 20 and the cam plate 9 for a purpose to be more fully hereinafter described.

,':Mounted on the staff 1 and extending upwardly therefrom in' concentric relation to the plunger 6 is a a .cage 32, the upper end 32a of whichls of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the sleeve 8 and an intermediate portion 32h having a diameter only slightly greater than that of the plunger 6. Formed in the upper end 32a of the cage 32 and opening through the lower end thereof are circumferentially spaced elongated longitudinal slots 33 for accommodating the lower ends of the record stack holding fingers to be more fully hereinafter described and formed in the cage member 32 below the upper end 32a and in circumferentially spaced relation to the slots 33 is an elongated longitudinally extending slot 34 through which works the record offsetting linger to be more fully hereinafter described. Opening through the side of the cage 32 and below the upper end 32a and in circumferentially spaced relation to each other and to the slot 34 are slots 36 in which are accommodated the record carrier fingers to be more fully hereinafter described. Formed in the upper end 32a adjacent the lower ends of and in alignment with the slots 36 are cam grooves 36a, the bottom walls 36h of which curve outwardly toward the periphery of the cage as they recede from the slots 36 to form camming surfaces by which are retracted the record carrier fingers, to be more fully hereinafter described.

Seated on the upper end 31 of the intermediate portion 321: of the cage 32 is the lower end of a compression coiled spring 30 which surrounds the plunger 6 in concentric relation thereto and carries at its upper end an annulus 30a which is normally disposed slightly below the shoulder 21. A carrier ring 29a is mounted in the upper end 32a for vertical sliding movement relative thereto and depending from the carrier ring 29a are record holding fingers 29 carrying adjacent their lower ends outwardly extending record engaging lugs 48. The lower ends of the record holding fingers 29 rest on the annulus 30a and the ngers are thus yieldingly supported in place in the upper end 32a. 'I'hese lingers 29 are so tensioned as to normally retain the lugs 48 within the peripheral confines of the cage 32 and upper end 32a. At the junction of the cage 32 with the upper end of the staff 1 a support collar 38 is provided having extending upwardly therefrom three spring fingers 4I and a single spring finger 40. These fingers are so tensioned as to converge as they recede from the collar 38 as will be readily understood upon reference to Figure 12. `The ends ofthe fingers 4I and 40 are curved outwardly as at 4Ia and 40a respectively to form retainers for the carrier ngers and offsetting nger to be'more fully hereinafter described.

Formed in the upper end of the sleeve 8 is a chamber 41 which communicates with the interiorof the staff 'I through an opening 45 for the reception of a ball 46 and seated on the upper end of the sleeve 8 is a collar 43 having in its lower end a cavity 41a, the wall of said cavity being so shaped that when engaging the ball 46 the latter will be urged inwardly against the plunger to eventually enter the groove I9 therein and hold the sleeve 8, stati` 1 and plunger 8 against relative movement. Carried by the upper end of the collar 43 and projecting upwardly therefrom is a tubular extension 44 having its upper end rolled inwardly as at 44a to form a bearing for circumferentially spaced carrier flngers 3| which are provided adjacent their lower ends with notches 3Ia in which is received the inturned portion 44a of the tubular extension 44. These fingers 3| work through the slots 38 aclaren -ofthelcage 32 `and are held -in :place on the tubu- 'iar extension 'by the outwardly curved yportions :41m-'ofthe fingers 4| "and formed on'the edge of veach finger A3| on fthe side thereof remote from mote from the notch 35a. is `an-outwarc'lly extending cam lug 1351 which is received -in the cam :groove-2| and works against the `curved -bottom Iti'lereo'ffas the plunger 6 moves relative to the sleeve. It is to be noted that the curved portion la'of the spring tongue 40 y'bears on *the linger :35 insuch a manner as to `yi'elding'ly hold the ycam lug aso in Contact with the 'bottom of the cam groove 2| whereas thecurved portion Ma of the spring tongues 4| 'are yso positioned relative to Sthe fingers 3`| vas to yieldingly urge them outwardly and rinto expanded position as illusytrated in the drawings.

A compression icoiled lspring 42 'is seated on the collar F43 and engages the lower end of the cage 32 to` effect :a yielding connection lbetween the .cage '32 and 'the sleeve 8.

In operation with astackofrecords supported on the spindle above "the'turn table v| bythe holding fingers 29 and assuming that the plate 9 is iinfth'e position illustrated in Figure 15, itwill `be evident vthat as the rollers I8 move the cam'r plate to the right, the pin 2 will move :the nplunger 6 upwardly thus moving the cone 26 upwardly and -permittingthe fingers 29v to contact-'and 'move the lugs y48 inwardly 'toward the laxisof the spindle. Simultaneously the cam surface 2|.ar of the groove 2| causes the cam 35h to move the upper end of the oisetting finger outwardly so that it bears kkagainst the walll of -the center hole -of the lowermost 'record in the stack. The entire weight o'f the record stack is thus 'transferred lto the carrier fingers 3|.

Continuing its movement to the right the plate "exerts downward r.pull on the pin I2 and plunger 6 to compress the spring and cause the outer ends of the lugs 48 to frictionally engage the Wall of the hole in the lowermost record in the stack. As the plate 9 approaches the end of its travel. to the right the wall of the inclined portion Ha of the cam .slot .exerts downward pull on the sleeve 8, causing the inturned portion 44a of the tubular `extension 44 to exert downward pull on the ngers 3| to bring the cam surfaces 3|b lon the fingers 3| into engagement with the cam surfaces at the bottom of the grooves 36a and cause the fingers 3| to move inwardly within the peripheral confines of the spindle, to thus release the bottom-most record from the stack and permit it to fall onto the turntable While the sleeve 8 has been moving downwardly, the plunger 6 also has been moving downwardly to bring the lugs 48 into a position to eng'agethe underside of the record next to the one supported by the fingers 3|. As the end of the downward movement of the sleeve is approached, the pin l2 encounters the curved cam surface |5e ofthe cam groove l5 to accelerate the descent of the plunger 6 so as to compress the spring 25 `and yieldngly urge the cone 2E against the ngers 29 to thereby cause the lugs 48 to snap outwardly -beneath the lowermost record in the stack" as upon which a lstack of records is supported 6 the record held by the 4fingers I3|ffis` released. Obviously `the rapid downward lmovement foff the plunger will permit the offsettlnglfln'gera 'tomove under the linfluence vof the spring finger 4,0 toward the 'axisf-and within the peripheral Vconilnes of vthe spindle. proa'ches the '-lower `end of the camsurface 15e of the cam slot inthe plate 8,-the sleeve 8 :will -have Lmoved downwardly a distance sufllcient 'to cause lthe wall vo-f the cavity 41a 'to engage `.the ball '45 :and under `the yieldingfpressureof 'the spring -42 to yeldinglyv urge 'the ball 146 toward the axislof the plunger. VHence whenthe groove |19 in the `plunger 6-aligns with the opening 4.5, the ball will partially `enter l'the groove`r 1|'9 and lock lthe plunger 6 and lstaffl against relative movement so that 'the hold-ing lingers 29 Will-be expanded with 'the Alugs 48 projecting-beneath the lowermost record inthe stack of records,

vwhile the' offsetting finger 35 and t'hecarrler fingers 3| remainwit'hin the-peripheral confines of the spindle. As the plate 9 is moved by the roller |18 in `a reverse direction, the sleeve'is 'elevated rby 'the vcam vsurface 11a. atl-a greater speed thanthespeed'of elevation of the plunger so as to lift the collar 143 -out of engagement with the ball yM5. This will allow the ball 4G to re"- lenter the chamber l1-as the plunger 6 is'elevated the parts will yassume their initial position with 'the carrier fingers 3| expanded beneath- .the record stack ready for a repeat operation. As the nngers 3| Iapproach their expanded condition the plunger 6 is moved upwardly to withdrawjthe cone 26 from its holding'relation to the fingers 12@ vso that the latter may contract and withdraw 'the lugs 48 from record 'stack holding position 4and rpermit the ystack to come to rest on the carrlier lingers 3|. The downward movement ofthe pin 12 in the short leg of the inverted V slot l5 causes the plunger 8 to move downwardly Aand bring the cone into position behind the holdingA fingers -29 to Iexpand them `vand move "theglugs "48 into frictionallcontact with the wall of thev centering hole in the lowermost record "in th stack `and ready for :a repeat operation. f

vWhat is claimed is: f f l. In va record 4changing 'spindle' o'f the type axially above and in Vspaced relation tofa 'turn table,a tubular stair extending axially throughl a turntable, lan annular row 'of circumferentially Aspaced lrecord holding lugs carried by vthe staff above the turn table `for movement vertically relatively thereto, means carried 'by the stafl.' and contacting said lugs for yieldingly contracting said `lugs within the peripheral confines of -the spindle, a plunger mounted jinsaid -stali' for movement vertically thereto, va cone mounted on the-plunger for movement relative thereto v within the lug contracting means, la spring carried by the plunger and bearing on the-cone vtol ad# vance said cone into yielding contact with the lug contracting means and cause the lugs to ex pand as the plunger is lowered in relation to the staiT, a sleeve encircling said stall and movable vertically relative thereto, yieldingly extended record carrier fingers carried by the sleeve below the holding lugs for supporting the stack of rec; ords when the lugs are contracted, and means carried by the staff and engaging the carrier y fingers for contracting said carrier fingers when the sleeve moves downwardly relative to the sta.

2. The subject matter as defined in claim l inv which the means for contracting the carrier y1in-- gers comprises a group of circumferentially spaced 1ongitudinally curved cam faces carried by the stai.

'f 3. In a record changing spindle of the type upon which a stack of -records is supported axially above and in spaced relation to a turn table, a tubular staff extending axially through a turntable; an annular row of circumferentially spaced record holding lugs carried by the staff above the turn table for movement vertically relatively thereto, means carried by the staff and contacting said lugs for yieldingly contracting said lugs within the peripheral contines of the spindle, a plunger mounted in said staff for movement vertically thereto, a cone mounted on the plunger for movement relative thereto within the lug contracting means, a spring carried by the plunger and bearing on the cone to advance said cone into yielding contact with the `lug contacting means and cause the lugs to exand means below the turn table and engaging the plunger and the sleeve for moving the plunger and the sleeve relatively to the staff in timed relation to one another.

4. The subject matter as dened in claim 3, in which the plunger and sleeve moving means comprises an elongated plate mounted to slide longitudinally in a, horizontal path, longitudinally extending cam tracks carried by said plate and pins connected to the plunger and to the sleeve and engaging the cam tracks whereby when the plate is moved horizontally the plunger and sleeve will move relative to one another.

5. In a. record changing spindle of the type upon which a stack of records is supported axially above and in spaced relation to a turn table, a tubular staff extending axially through a turntable, an annular-row of circumferentially spaced record holding lugs carried by the stair above the turn table for movement vertically relatively thereto, means carried by the staff and contacting said lugs for yieldingly contracting said lugs within the peripheral confines of the spindle, a plunger mounted in said staff for movement vertically thereto, a cone mounted on the plunger for movement relative thereto within the lug contracting means, a spring carried by the plunger and bearing on the cone to advance said cone into yielding contact with the lug contracting means andl cause the lugs to expand as vthe plunger is lowered in relation to 60 the staff, a sleeve encircling said staff and movable vertically relative thereto, yieldingly ex- 8 tended record carrier iingers carried by the sleeve below the holding lugs for supporting the stack of records when the lugs are contracted, means carried by the staff and engaging the carrier fingers for contracting said carrier fingers when the sleeve moves downwardly relative to the staff, an offsetting nger carried by the sleeve, means carried by the sleeve and engaging said offsetting finger to yieldingly urge said 11nger toward the axis of the spindle, said plunger having a cam groove therein above the sleeve and a cam on the offsetting finger for entering the groove and moving the nger against the effort of the yielding means.

6. In a record changing spindle of the type upon which a stack of records is supported axially above and in spaced relation to a turn table, a tubular staff extending axially through a turntable, an annular row of circumferentlally spaced record holding lugs carried by the stai! above the turn table for movement vertically relatively thereto, means carried by the staff and contacting said lugs for yieldingly contracting said lugs within the peripheral connes of the spindle, a plunger mounted in said staff for movement vertically thereto, a. cone mounted on the plunger for movement relative thereto within the lug contracting means, a spring carried by the plunger and bearing on the cone to advance said cone into yielding contact with the lug contracting means and cause the lugs to expand as the plunger is lowered in relation to the staff, a sleeve encircling said stair and movable vertically relative thereto, yieldingly extended record carrier fingers carried by the sleeve below REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

* UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,328,052 Butler Aug. 31, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 69,274 Norway May 28, 1945 64,649

Denmark July 22, 1946 

